Where to Report Cruelty

If you live in New York City and need to report animal cruelty, please contact 311. To report crimes in progress in any borough, please call 911.

In New Jersey

If you believe you have witnessed animal cruelty in the state of New Jersey and would like to report it, please call the NJSPCA at (800) 582-5979 or fill out NJSPCA's online form.

In Other Areas

Find out who is responsible for investigating and enforcing the anti-cruelty codes in your town, county and/or state. These people typically work for your local humane organization, animal control agency, taxpayer-funded animal shelter or police precinct.

If you run into trouble finding the correct agency to contact, you should call or visit your local police department and ask for their help in enforcing the law. If your local police department is unable to assist, ask your local shelter or animal control agency for advice. To find contact information for your local shelter, visit the ASPCA's searchable database of nearly 5,000 organizations.

How to Report Cruelty

This FAQ will provide you with all the information you need to recognize and report animal cruelty in your area. Learn more about animal cruelty laws in your state, as well as strategies for parents and teachers for teaching your children or students about this important issue.

More on Cruelty

Help us prevent animal cruelty from happening in your neighborhood by reading through these simple tips about how to recognize the signs of cruelty, and how to report cruelty situations. By taking these actions, you can make the world a safer place for animals.

A strong connection has been found between domestic violence and animal abuse. Learn more here about studies that have found linkages between physical abuse of women and children and violence toward pets and livestock.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) receives many calls from pet parents whose animals have been maliciously poisoned—sometimes right in their own backyards. Read these tips for protecting your pets from this type of cruel act.